Ments



R. F. YVATES 7 Re. 18,239

ELEC TRODYNAMICALLY CONTROLLED FIGURE Oct. 27, 1931.

Original Filed June 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i ll" INVENTOR R. F.Yaf'es ZEM/WW" ATTORNEY- Oct. 27, 1931. R. F. YATES v ELECTRODYNAMICALLYCONTROLLED FIGURE Original Filed June 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORA. F Yafes BY ATTORNEY Reiuued Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENTIOFFFICE RAYMOND FRANCIS YATES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BYASSIGN- MENTS, TO TOBE DEUTSGEMANN, TRUSTEEELEOTRODYNAMIGALLY-CONTROLLED FIGURE 7 Original No; 1,726,283, datedAugust 27, 1929, Serial No; 36,207, filed Tune 10, 1925. Application forreissue filed August 26, 1931. Serial No. 559,580.

This invention relates to electrodynamically controlled figures andparticularly to a dancing figure toy, or the like, used in ad vertisingor for amusement or the like.

An object of the invention resides in providing a figure with which isconnected suitable apparatus for electrical operation for setting thefigure in motion, in response to the undulating or varying electriccurrents received in the apparatus which may result from voice or musicbeing impressed upon the current flowing in the circuit to theapparatus.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a figure movablysupported or having movable portions connected to suitable apparatusoperated by the modulated current flowing in a circuit receiving signalsor sounds, inorder that the figure will be operated in accordance withthe variations in the flow of the current in the circuit, re-

sulting from the transmission and reception of the signals or sounds.

The 'invention is more fully and completely set forth in theaccompanying drawings, and in the following detailed description andclaims, directed to a preferred form of the invention, it beingunderstood, however, that numerous variations in the practicalembodiments of the invention may be made, without departing from theprinciple or scope of the invention as set forth therein.

In the drawings, forming a part of this application 4 Figure 1 is adiagrammatic .view showing principally the wiring diagram for a soundreceiving and amplifying circuit adapted to operate the figure.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a structure mounting the figure andcontaining the apparatus for receiving the electrical impulses tooperate the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. I I

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing portions in section, of a slightlydifferent and simplified form of figure, utilizing the same principle ofoperation as in the above illustrated structure for operating a portionof the figure.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the arms and legs 2 and 3respectively, or other movable portions, according to the character offigure used. A connection is made, as indicated at 4:, between thefigure and a suitable vibrating or movable member 5, which may be in theform of an armature-for an electro-magnet, as illustrated or of anyother desired form or character, suitable in operation to producemovement of the figure for causing the figure to dance or in any othermanner produce movements of the various movable parts thereof. Anelectro-magnet is indicated at 6, for operating the movable member 5,which, as illustrated, forms the armature of the electromagnet, whilethe terminals of said electromagnet are connected in an independentcircuit with the source of energy 7, and the stationary and movablecontacts 8 and 9 respectively, which are alternately engagedanddisengaged through the movement of the movable contact 9 car- .soundreproducingdevice may be included in the output circuit with theelectromagnet 11, such as indicated at 13, which may be of any desiredform or structure for reproducing the sound transmitted or received inthe output circuit of the amplifying unit.

Figure 1 illustrates essentially the diav grammatic view' of the wiring"connection for a suitable receiver for amplifying and reproducingsignals and sounds carried by a music or voice modulated current ofirregular character, and it is to be understood that the circuittransmitting said signals or currents might well be used asa receivercircuit for controlling-and operating the eleca sound amplifyingtromagnet 11 adapted to reproduce the essential variations through theoperation of of the bracket carries a dependin extension 25, which ispivotally 'connecte with the the armature 10, in the circuit includingthe b racket 26, carried by the base 17, so that electromagnet 6, foroperating the movable member 5 to mechanically reproduce by vibrationthe variations or moduations of the received currents and operate thefigure 1 to move in accordance therewith. In this way, it will be seenthat the figure will be operated to move 'or dance in accordance withthe variations of current in the output circuit of the amplifying unit.The same results would be obtained by including the electromagnet 11 inthe output cir--' cult or some other portion of thecircuit of device.

Figures 2, 3, an 5 illustrate particularly a mechanical embodiment ofthe idea heretofore described, in which the figure 1 has movable arms 2-and movable legs 3' formed of jointed sections pivotally connected together and to the body of the figure. The body of-the' figure issupported on the rod 14 slidably fitted in the sleeve 15 carried by thehousing 16 suitably connected to the base 17. The lower end of the rod14 is rested on the armature 18, resiliently supported through thespring strip 19 on the post 20, carried by the base 17. Suitableelectromagnet 21 is mounted on the base 17, with the pole piecepositioned for actuating the armature 18 upon energization of theelectromagnet, the terminals being connected in series with contacts 8and 9 associated with armature 10, (Figure 5) and binding posts '22, sothat the same may be interposed in circuit, as illustrated in Figure 1.It will be seen that by connecting the electromag-- net 11, (Figure5)"in a circuit and impress ing modulated or varyin currents thereon,that the armature 18 Willie operated to produce a movementrofthe figure,the vibration of which willcause the legs and arms to move on theirpivoted joints, in accordance with he vibration of the armature 18,resulting from the current interruptions in the circuit containing theelectromagnet 21.

In Figures 3 and 5 a substantially sensitive relay construction isillustrated, show\- ing a practical embodiment of the electromagnet 11,armature 10, and stationary and movable contacts 8 and 9 respectively. A

' suitable frame is provided at 23. which supports the electromagnet11in the bottom portion thereof, and carries the stationary contact 8 inthe upturn end 24, while the opposite end extends laterally andpivotally mounts for suspended swinging movement the armature 10. Thisarmature normally maintains a vertical position by gravity, insuspension from the bracket 23, and is moved through the energization ofthe electromagnet 11, in accordance with current pulsations orvariations, in the circuit in which the electro-magnet is connected. Thelower side gravity, between limits, such as indicated by the numeral 27,in order that the sensitiveness and distance that the armature isrequiredto move to engage the stationary contact may be varied withindesired limits.

Where it is desired to operate the-figure directly from the outputcircuit of the amplifying' unit, it has been found preferable to use arelay, similar to that illustratedin Figure 5, but minus the contacts,for vdirectly operating the movable portions of the figure, such as isillustrated in the construction shown in Figure 4. In this figure of thedrawings, a suitable form of figure structure is illustratedat 28,having a movable portion 29 which is directly mounted on the lateralprojecting'arm 30 of the suspended armature 31. The lateral projectionof the bracket member 32 forms apivotal suspending element or mountingfor the armature 31, the lower end of which extends into proximity withone end of the relay coil 33 mounted in the bracket member, while theupturn end 34 of. the bracketmember' limits the stroke of movement ofthe armature. The relay magnet is connected to suitable terminals 35mounted on the body of the figure 28, with which are connected the wires36 connected with the terminals 37 of the output circuit of a suitableamplifying unit 38. In operation, the fluctuation or variation due tovarying the sound intensities impressed upon the current in the circuitincluding the relay 33 will move the armature 31 and correspondingly themovable part 29 of the figure, which will reproduce the currentfluctuations and modulations in the output circuit of the amplifyingunderstood that an electro-dynamically operated figure is produced whichwill be operated in accordance with the variations of current in theoutput circuit of a suitable electrical apparatus, which receives ortransmits sounds or other forms of energy by the variations'oroscillation of an electric cur rent flowing in suitable circuits andapparatus which may include the modulated currents in radio or telephonecircuits, so that the figure will mechanically reproduce thesevariations.

It is to be understood that this invention may be applied in many waysin connection with the production of advertising and amusement devicesas well as toys adapted forgeneral use, and that the structure oftheelements for reproducing the electrical variations in mechanicalmovement may be combination wit of any desired character of which theforms shown serve as illustrations;

What is claimed is: 1. In a device of the class described, a toy figure,and means for agitating said figure in direct response to the variationsof an electric current varying at audio frequencies, saidmeans-comprising a vibratile actuated by said electromagnetic deviceforv agitating said figure in response to audio frequency currentsreceived from said set.

3. In a device of the class described, a toy figure having looselyattached limbs, a support for said figure comprising a pivotally mountedarmature, means connecting the figure with said support, and meansdirectly responsive to variations in radio waves for vibrating saidsupport, said vibrating means comprlsing an electromagnet andradio-receiving apparatus capable of sending variant electric currentsthrough the coil of said electromagnet in response to variations inradio waves received thereby.

4. In a device of the class described, a radio-receiving set comprisingapparatus for setting up oscillatory currents in response to radio wavesand delivering corresponding currents varying at audio frequencies, in

- an electromagnet having a flux variable by said variant current and avibratile armature response to said variations of flux, a toy figure,and a support for said figure mechanically connected with said armature,whereby toy and support are vibrated by said armature.

5. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a toyfigure, means for agitating said figure in direct response to thevariations of an electric current varying at audio frequencies, meansfor converting radiant energy into variant electric currents of audiofrequencies, and means for operatively connecting said agitating meanswith said converting means.

6. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a tofigure, means for agitating said figure in direct response to thevariations of an electric "current varying at audio frequencies, saidmeans comprising a supporting member for said figure, a vibratilearmature connected thereto, andan electromagnet associated with saidarmature; means for converting radiant energy into variant electriccurrents and means for operatively connecting said electromagnet withsaid converting means.

7 In a device' of the class described, a toy figure and means foragitating said figure in direct response to the variations of anelectric current, varying at audio frequencies, said means comprising avibratable means operably supportin said figure, electroma netic meansincluding in part said vibratab e means for operating the latter, andmeans for electrically connecting said electromagnet with a source ofvariant current of audio frequency.

8. In a device of the class described, atoy figure having looselyattached limbs and means for agitating said figure comprising meanselectrically operated for producing mechanical vibrations correspondingto variant currents of audio frequency and means operatively connectingsaid electrically operated means to said figure.

9. In a device of the class described, a toy figure and means foragitating said figure in direct response to variations of anielectriccurrentvarying at audio frequencies, said means comprising a vibratableelement operably supporting said figure and electrical means operatingat audio frequency current variations for operating the vibratableelement.

10. In a device of the class described, a toy figure and means foragitating said figure rhythmically in response to varying electricalcurrents whose characteristics may be the 100 same as speech, music andphonetic vibrations comprising an audio frequency amplifying unit and anelectromagnetic unit having a vibratable element operatively connectedthereto, and means operatively connecting said vibratable element tosaid toy figure.

11. In a device of the class described, a toy figure and means foragitating saidfigure rhythmically in response to varying electricalcurrents whose characteristics may be the 110 same as speech, music andphonetic vibrations comprising an electromagnetic unit having avibratable element and means operatively connecting said vibratableelement to said toy figure.

RAYMOND FRANCIS YATES.

